Decorative badge with movable eyes and mouth

ABSTRACT

A badge includes a back member body on which are mounted a pair of circular members and an elongated member to together generally define the eyes and mouth of a face. The circular members are mounted to the back member body by spring clips which allow the circular members to be rotated to various positions to change the attitude of the eyes, meanwhile allowing the easy removal and replacement thereof. The elongated member has its ends fixed to the back member body, and is of flexible material, so that the attitude, and thus the expression, of the mouth may be varied.

fite States Patent 1 Forsman 1 DECORATIVE BADGE WITH MOVABLE EYES AND MOUTH 211 App]. No: 290,456

3,056,220 10/1962 Nelson 40/l.5

Primary Examiner-Jerome Schnall Assistant Examiner wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Phillips, Moore, Weissenberger, Lempio & Strabala [5 7 1 ABSTCT A badge includes a back member body on which are mounted a pair of circular members and an elongated member to together generally define the eyes and mouth of a face. The circular members are mounted to the back member body by spring clips which allow the circular members to be rotated to various positions to change the attitude of the eyes, meanwhile allowing the easy removal and replacement thereof. The elongated member has its ends fixed to the back member body, and is of flexible material, so that the attitude, and thus the expression, of the mouth may be varied.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDHBT 81w 3.839.821 am am 2 FIG. 5.

FIG. 9. FIG. IO.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to decorative badges and the like, and more particularly, to a decorative badge which includes eye and mouth members as part of a face, the eye and mouth members being adjustable to vary the expression on the face.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a decorative badge which generally defines a face, the expression of which can be easily and conveniently changed.

It is further object of this invention to provide a decorative badge the elements of which need not be removed and replaced to change such expression, but which allows alteration of the elements included to pro vide such changed expression.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a decorative badge which, while fulfilling the above objects, allows a wide. variety of expressions to be achieved.

It is still further object of this invention to provide a decorative badge which, while fulfilling the above objects, is extremely simple in design.

Broadly stated, the invention is a decorative badge comprising a back member defining a back member body having a front portion. A pair of forward members are mounted on the front portion of the back member body, and means are included for securing the forward members to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing each forward member to be rotated relative to the back member body and set in a chosen rotated position relative thereto. An elongated generally flexible member is mounted on the front portion of the back member body and is positioned in relation to the forward members such that the forward members and elongated member together generally define the eyes and mouth of a face. Means are included for securing the elongated member at its end portions to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing the elongated member to be flexed into a variety of chosen positions, the elongated member being sufficiently stiff to independently hold a chosen position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a first embodiment of the inventive badge;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded rear perspective view of the badge of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of the inventive badge;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII- VII of FIG. 5; l

FIG. 8 is an exploded rear perspective view of the badge of FIGS. 5-7; and,

FIGS. 9 and 10 show examples of several facial expressions which may be achieved with either embodiment of th inventive badge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Shown in FIGS. 14 is the first embodiment of inventive decorative badge 10. Such badge 10 includes a circular back member 12 defining aback member body 14 having a front portion 16. A pair of forward members 18, 20 are mounted on the front portion 16, and an elongated member 22 is also mounted on the front portion 16, by means which will be described later in detail.

The elongated member 22 is positioned in relation to the forward members 18, 20 such that they together define the mouth and eyes of a face, as shown.

Each forward member 18, 20 comprises a circular member which defines a front surface, as shown at 24 in FIG. 2 (forward member 20), and 'an annular rearwardly and inwardly extending lip 26. As the means for securing each forward member to the front portion 16 of the back member body 14 are the same, only that associated with front member 20 will be described in detail.

A spring clip 28 of material bendable to an extent, has a circular portion 30 sized to fit into the annular lip 26 of forward member 20. From the circular portion 30, a pair of support portions 32, 34 extend inwardly thereof. A pair of clip portions 36, 38 extend from portions 32, 34 rearwardly of the front surface 24 of forward member20, and are outwardlyflared. Finally, the spring clip 28 has a pair of inwardly flared rearwardly extending portions 40, 42 extending from the clip portions 36, 38.

' The ends of the inwardly flared portions 40, 42 are spaced apart to the same extent as a pair of apertures 44, 46 cut through the back member body 14. With the forward member 20 in the position shown in FIG. 2, outwardly flared portions 36, 38 of spring clip 28 releasably secure the spring clip 28 to the back member body 14, whereby the forward member 20 is releasably secured to the front portion 16 of the back member body 14 when the clip portions 36, 38 are disposed in the apertures 44, 46.

It will be seen that the spring clip 28 is held from rotation relative to the back member body 14 by such pair of outwardly flared portions 36, 38, extending through the apertures 44, 46. However, the forward member 20 is rotatable relative to the back member body 14 by relative sliding movement between the annular lip 26 of the forward member 20 and the circular portion 30 of the spring clip 28.

Because spring clip 28 is bendable, the outwardly flared portions 40, 42 may be positioned to fit properly into apertures 44, 46, and the circular portion 30 may be configured to fit snugly into the annular lip 26 to be properly retained by the lip 26, and to hold the forward member 20 in rotative position relative to the spring clip 28, meanwhile allowing rotation of the forward member 20 to other positions relative to'the spring clip 28, and thus relative to the back member body 14. In addition, the inwardly flared and outwardly flared portions 40, 42 and 36, 38 allow the forward member 20 and spring clip 28 together to be secured to and removed from the back member body 14.

The elongated member 22 is of flexible material, in this embodiment being a lead strip, which is preferably coated with a flexible protective plastic coating, e.g. vinyl. The member 22 has end portions 50, 52 which define mouth corners. The end portions 50, 52 are secured to the front portion 16 of the back member body 14 by identical means, so only that end portion 50 and associated structure will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 3, end portion 50 has an extension 54 which extends through a hole 56 disposed through the back body member 14, the extension 54 ending in a split dove-tail 58 to limit removal thereof from the hole 56. Through such means, member 22 is secured at its end portions 50, 52 to the front portion 16 of the back member body 14. Meanwhile the member 22 may be flexed into a variety of chosen positions, the elongated member 22, of lead strip, being sufficiently stiff to independently hold a chosen position.

As shown, the front surface 24 of forward member 20 has marked thereon an iris-and-pupil marking 60. Forward member 18 has a similar marking. By rotating the forward members 18, 20 as described, and by bending or flexing the elongated member 22, a variety of facial expressions may be achieved, a few of which are shown as examples in FIGS. 9 and 10. A pin assembly 62 is fixed to the rear of the back member body 14, so that the badge may be pinned on the clothes of a wearer if desired.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5-8. In such embodiment, forward members 70, 72 are secured to the front portion 74 of a back member body 76 by the means shown in FIG. 6. As shown therein, a circular securing means 78 has an outer edge 80 which is sized to fit within an annular lip 82 of forward member 70. The circular securing member 78 has an eye 84 which extends rearwardly of the front surface 85 of the forward member 70 through a bore 86 defined through the back member body 76. A retaining element 90 is disposed through the eye 84 rearwardly of the front portion 74 of the back member body 76, and positioned in a recess 92 by which it is retained. Forward member 72 is associated by similar means with back member body 76. The forward member 70 is rotatable relative to the circular securing member 78, and thus the rotative position of forward member 70 may be varied relative to the back member body 76.

The elongated member 94 is of flexible plastic coated wire in this embodiment. The end portions 96, 98 thereof have like means associated therewith, for the securing thereof to the front portion 74 of back member body 76, so only one of these will be described in detail.

The wire elongated member 94 has an extended end portion 100 extending through a hole 102 defined through the back member body 76. Such extended end portion 100 is disposed in a recess 104, and the recess 104 is filled with clay 106 or the like to retain the extended end portion 100 in such hole 102 to limit removal thereof from the hole 102. Through such means, member 94 is secured at its end portions 96, 98 to the front portion 74 of the back member body 76. Meanwhile, the member 94 may be flexed into a variety of chosen positions, the member 94, of coated wire, being sufficiently stiff to independently hold such a chosen position.

In this embodiment, plastic mouth corners 108, 110 are glued to the front portion 74 of back member body 76 adjacent the end portions 96, 98 of elongated member 94.

Through such means, a variety of facial expressions similar to those of FIGS. 9 and 10 may be achieved.

It will be understood that the term badge" is used herein in the broad sense. That is, such a badge could be used as a button, being on the wall as a picture or retained in a free standing position as in a desk unit, for example. It will also be understood that many variations may be made, for example, to color and configuration of the elements. Writing can be included in combination with the described elements to convey a message, etc. In any case, with the embodiments described, a wide variety of facial expressions can be achieved, and it is quite clear that it is easy and convenient to change from one expression to the other, without removal of the elements which define such expression. The embodiments shown and described, it will also be seen, are quite simple in design.

What is claimed is:

l. A decorative badge comprising: a back member defining a back member body having a front portion; a pair of forward members mounted on the front portion of the back member body; means for securing the forward members to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing each forward member to be rotated relative to the back member body and set in a chosen rotative position relative thereto; an elongated generally flexiblemember mounted on the front portion of the back member body and positioned in relation to the forward members such that the forward members and elongated member together generally define the eyes and mouth of a face respectively; means for securing the elongated member at its end portions to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing the elongated member to be flexed into a variety of chosen positions, the elongated member being sufficiently stiff to independently hold a chosen position, wherein the forward members comprise circular members each defining a front surface and an annular rearwardly and inwardly extending lip, and wherein the means'for securing each forward member to the front portion of the back member body comprise a spring clip having (i) a circular portion sized to fit into the annular lip of that forward member, (ii) a pair of support portions extending inwardly from the circular portion, and (iii) a pair of outwardly flared clip portions extending from the inwardly extending portions rearwardly of the front surface of that forward member into and through a pair of apertures defined through the back member body, to releasably secure the spring clip to the back member body, when the outwardly flared rearwardly extending portions are disposed in said pair of apertures, whereby that forward member is releasably secured to the front portion of the back member body, the spring clip being held from rotation relative to the back member body by such pair of outwardly flared rearwardly extending portions extending through said pair of apertures, that forward member being rotatable relative to the back member body by relative sliding movement between the forward member annular lip and the circular portion of the spring clip.

.2. The badge according to claim 1 wherein the spring clip is bendable to an extent, whereby the outwardly flared rearwardly extending portions thereof may be positioned to fit properly into the pair of apertures, and whereby the circular portion thereof may be configured to fit properly into the annular lip of that forward member, to be properly retained by said lip, and to hold that forward member in rotative position relative to the spring clip, meanwhile allowing rotation of that forward member to other positions relative to the spring clip, and thus relative to the back member.

3. The badge according to claim 2 wherein the elongated member comprises a lead member the end portions of which define mouth corners, and wherein the means for securing the elongated member at its end portions to the front surface of the back member body comprise a pair of extensions extending through a pair of holes defined through the back body member, the extensions ending in split dove-tail portions to limit removal thereof from the holes.

4. The badge according to claim 3 wherein the spring clip further has a pair of inwardly flared rearwardly extending portions extending from the outwardly flared rearwardly extending portions, the ends of the inwardly flared rearwardly extending portions being spaced apart to the same extent as the spacing of the pair of apertures, so that that forwardmember and spring clip together may be secured to and removed from the back member body.

5. A decorative badge comprising: a back member defining a back member body having a front portion; a pair of forward members mounted on the front portion of the back member body; means for securing the forward members to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing each forward member to be rotated relative to the back member body and set in a chosen rotative position relative thereto; an elongated generally flexible member mounted on the front portion of the back member body and positioned in relation to the forward members such that the forward members and elongated member together generally define the eyes and mouth of a face respectively; means for securing the elongated member at its end portions to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing the elongated member to be flexed into a variety of chosen positions, the elongated member being sufficiently stiff to independently hold a chosen position, wherein the forward members comprise circular members each defining a front surface and an annular rearwardly and inwardly extending lip, and wherein the means for securing each forward member to the front portion of the back member body comprise (i) a circular securing member the outer edge of which is sized to fit within the annular lip of the forward member, (ii) an eye which extends rearwardly of the front surface of that forward member and through a bore defined through the back member body, and (iii) a retaining element disposed through the eye rearwardly of the front portion of the back member body.

6. The badge according to claim 5 wherein the elongated member comprises a coated wire, and wherein the means for securing the elongated member at its end portions to the front portion of the back member body comprise a pair of wire extended end portions extending through a pair of holes defined through the back member body, and means for retaining the wire extended end portions in said holes to limit removal thereof from the holes. 

1. A decorative badge comprising: a back member defining a back member body having a front portion; a pair of forward members mounted on the front portion of the back member body; means for securing the forward members to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing each forward memBer to be rotated relative to the back member body and set in a chosen rotative position relative thereto; an elongated generally flexible member mounted on the front portion of the back member body and positioned in relation to the forward members such that the forward members and elongated member together generally define the eyes and mouth of a face respectively; means for securing the elongated member at its end portions to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing the elongated member to be flexed into a variety of chosen positions, the elongated member being sufficiently stiff to independently hold a chosen position, wherein the forward members comprise circular members each defining a front surface and an annular rearwardly and inwardly extending lip, and wherein the means for securing each forward member to the front portion of the back member body comprise a spring clip having (i) a circular portion sized to fit into the annular lip of that forward member, (ii) a pair of support portions extending inwardly from the circular portion, and (iii) a pair of outwardly flared clip portions extending from the inwardly extending portions rearwardly of the front surface of that forward member into and through a pair of apertures defined through the back member body, to releasably secure the spring clip to the back member body, when the outwardly flared rearwardly extending portions are disposed in said pair of apertures, whereby that forward member is releasably secured to the front portion of the back member body, the spring clip being held from rotation relative to the back member body by such pair of outwardly flared rearwardly extending portions extending through said pair of apertures, that forward member being rotatable relative to the back member body by relative sliding movement between the forward member annular lip and the circular portion of the spring clip.
 2. The badge according to claim 1 wherein the spring clip is bendable to an extent, whereby the outwardly flared rearwardly extending portions thereof may be positioned to fit properly into the pair of apertures, and whereby the circular portion thereof may be configured to fit properly into the annular lip of that forward member, to be properly retained by said lip, and to hold that forward member in rotative position relative to the spring clip, meanwhile allowing rotation of that forward member to other positions relative to the spring clip, and thus relative to the back member.
 3. The badge according to claim 2 wherein the elongated member comprises a lead member the end portions of which define mouth corners, and wherein the means for securing the elongated member at its end portions to the front surface of the back member body comprise a pair of extensions extending through a pair of holes defined through the back body member, the extensions ending in split dove-tail portions to limit removal thereof from the holes.
 4. The badge according to claim 3 wherein the spring clip further has a pair of inwardly flared rearwardly extending portions extending from the outwardly flared rearwardly extending portions, the ends of the inwardly flared rearwardly extending portions being spaced apart to the same extent as the spacing of the pair of apertures, so that that forward member and spring clip together may be secured to and removed from the back member body.
 5. A decorative badge comprising: a back member defining a back member body having a front portion; a pair of forward members mounted on the front portion of the back member body; means for securing the forward members to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing each forward member to be rotated relative to the back member body and set in a chosen rotative position relative thereto; an elongated generally flexible member mounted on the front portion of the back member body and positioned in relation to the forward members such that the forward members and elongated member together generally define the eyes and mouth of a face respectively; means for securing the elongated member at its end portions to the front portion of the back member body, meanwhile allowing the elongated member to be flexed into a variety of chosen positions, the elongated member being sufficiently stiff to independently hold a chosen position, wherein the forward members comprise circular members each defining a front surface and an annular rearwardly and inwardly extending lip, and wherein the means for securing each forward member to the front portion of the back member body comprise (i) a circular securing member the outer edge of which is sized to fit within the annular lip of the forward member, (ii) an eye which extends rearwardly of the front surface of that forward member and through a bore defined through the back member body, and (iii) a retaining element disposed through the eye rearwardly of the front portion of the back member body.
 6. The badge according to claim 5 wherein the elongated member comprises a coated wire, and wherein the means for securing the elongated member at its end portions to the front portion of the back member body comprise a pair of wire extended end portions extending through a pair of holes defined through the back member body, and means for retaining the wire extended end portions in said holes to limit removal thereof from the holes. 